Salem celebrates Halloween

Halloween in Salem is fun. It’s costumes. It’s parades. It’s street vendors and entertainment and a little bit of everything for all ages whether you are a first-time visitor or an annual guest of the city.

As is the case every weekend in October, large crowds saunter up and down the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall to take in the hundreds of costumes, entertainers, and vendors lining the road.

A gentleman who only identifies himself as “The Balloon Guy” has spent the last 20 Octobers in downtown Salem bringing smiles to children. Here, he presented Emily Belmont, of Brockton, with a balloon flower.
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Chris Cassidy, of Milford, looked on as his buddy Matty Corinna had his face painted horror-style by Dave Choquette of Vulgar Expressions Entertainment.
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Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

There’s plenty throughout the city for children and families. The Common was alive with decorations, games, and rides for Family Fun Days.
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Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Melina Olson (front) and her mother, Pia, of Windham, N.H., enjoyed a carousel ride on Salem Common with friend Shelby Dagley, of Salem.
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Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

But where do the adults go for fun in October? Many could be found at the Knight’s of Columbus on Saturday for the sixth annual Harvest Fest. The event sponsored by Magic Hat Brewery in South Burlington, Vt., featured fine wine and mead and craft beer. Pamplemousse, a European-style market and boutique in downtown Salem, put on the event.
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Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Toasting the Halloween season at Harvest Fest were, left to right, Jaime Nagley, her sister Kristen, and their mother Jean, of Coventry, R.I.
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Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Mitch Alden, of NOW is NOW, based in Portland, Maine, played a solo set at Harvest Fest. At 3 p.m., Salem’s own Qwill took over entertainment duties.
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Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

There was a decent turnout at East India Square for a day of entertainment on the Fountain Stage. The stage, which used to be set up in the fountain, hosts live music every weekend in October.
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Ryan Mooney/Your Town Correspondent

Local act Millfire Ash, made up of John Waterman (left) and Nick Zaino, played the Fountain Stage.
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Ryan Mooney for Boston.com

Over the past three decades, the city of Salem has embraced its role as the premier destination for Halloween enthusiasts from all over the country. The celebrations kicked off with the Salem Chamber of Commerce Haunted Happenings Grand Parade, a “dark” but colorful spectacle that invaded the downtown area for the 17th time Thursday night.

A panda bear float sponsored by The Rockmore Co., the company that operates the Hannah Glover, which hosts the Haunted Harbor Cruise.
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Ryan Mooney for Boston.com

This hearse with “Pennywise” on the side, the killer-clown character of Stephen King’s IT, caught plenty of attention and camera flashes.
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Ryan Mooney for Boston.com

A float decorated by the students of the K-8 Nathaniel Bowditch School. The first World Animal Day was celebrated in 1931, and has since become a day for people around the world to celebrate and pay tribute to all animals.
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Ryan Mooney for Boston.com

Beth Lewandowski, assistant principal of the Bates Elementary School, in her homemade lobster costume.
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Ryan Mooney for Boston.com

There was no shortage of penguins at this year’s parade. Al Wolfson of Witch City Segway tours offers a “new way to see and old city.”
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Ryan Mooney for Boston.com

Bentley School students enter the Salem Common for the after-party. Every Salem school was represented in some capacity at the parade.
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Ryan Mooney for Boston.com

Gorilla Dave and Kayla Sanborn as a green M&M. It’s no surprise that at a parade geared toward children, the M&M costume was popular. “It was a big hit,” Dave said.
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Ryan Mooney for Boston.com

Lia Gaudet, 7 months, of Peabody is getting ready to celebrate her first Halloween and first Haunted Happenings. Pictured here with parents, Charles and Keriann, as the procession moved up Washington Street.
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Ryan Mooney for Boston.com

The 2012 Salem Little League Minor League Baseball champions packed the back of a trolley in preparation to ride in the parade.
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Ryan Mooney for Boston.com

New to the parade this year: Bagpipers of the Irish American Police Officers Association.
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Ryan Mooney for Boston.com

The Salem High School marching band heads down Congress Street towards downtown as the festivities get underway.
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Ryan Mooney for Boston.com

Kendall Benvenuto, 3, of Peabody was jumping for joy at times as the floats passed her on Derby Street.
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Ryan Mooney for Boston.com

“Bow-ditch, cha, cha, cha!” Students of the Nathaniel Bowditch School showed their school spirit with a chant as they follow their float into Salem Common.
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